St. Landry democrat., 1887-07-09

Repubhcan He was member OF the
Legislature for several years and repre-
sented the Ogdensburg district in Con-
gress from 1S43 to 1847, and again from
1S49 to 1853, when he was chosen
senator in Congress to succeed Hamilton
Fish, his term expiring March ), 1868
His successor was Ex-Governor b. u.
Morgan. His tragic death created Wlde
comment at the time, and mystery
surrounds it which has never been satls-
factOrily solved
Senator James II. Lane, of Kansas, was
the son of Amos Lane, native or New
York, who emigrated westward IN loo4
and represented one Of the Indiana as
tricts in Congress from 1888 to 1909.
Amos Lane was a lawyer OF ackno"l-
edged ability and filled conspicuous
position in the history of Indiana. IL -
a coincidence worthy of mention tnaI
Amos Lane should have two sons VINO
became senators, Henry S. and James
H. Lane, and who served together our
ing the Thirty-seventh, Thirty elghth
and Thirtv-ninth Congresses, the former
from Indiana and the latter from Kansas.
Henry S. Lane, the elder son, served as
a member of Congress from Indiana from
1S41 to 1S43, and James Ii. Lane repre-
scented an Indiana district in the House
from 1853 to 1866. Both brothers lke-
wise served as officers of Indiana Vo!un-
teers during the war with Mexico
James II. Lane settled in Kansas IN
the early days of its history, and came
into notoriety as major general OF Tue
Free State" troops during the boroer
warfare in that territory. He was pres!-
dent of the Topeka Free State Constl-
tutional Convention, and, upon the ao-
mission of Kansas in 1861, was CHOSEN
its first senator for the term ended
March 3, 1865 He was reelected tor an
additional term, from March 4, 1860, 10
March 3, 1871 but on the lst OF july
1866, while absent from the Senate on
leave of absence, committed suicide near
Fort Leavenworth Kan, by shooting
himself with pistol. Various hypo-
theses are INDUCED in respecting the
motive which prompted his suicide, ms
enemies, of which he had many, attrlo-
uting the rash act to remorse tor atrocl-
ties alleged to have been committed by
him during the border wars and the
civil war, in which latter he held
a Federal commission as brlgadler
general. Others are of opinion that ms
mind was unbalanced by failing health,
superinduced by indulgence in the
wine-cup At all events, the particulars
attending his sudden taking-otf, like
those of Preston King, are matters OF
grave speculation.
1t is an additional coincidence that
General Joseph Lane, the first senator
from Oregon, who was born IN Bun
combe county, n c., in 1901, and
who was the Democratic candidate for
Vice President in 1861, on the ticket with
John C. Breckenridge, was likewise
citizen of Indiana, serving several terms
in the Legislature of that State. he
also participated in the Mexican war and
was promoted by President Polk to be
brigadier general for gallantry at Buena
Vista and other battles. He was ap-.
pointed governor of the Territory OF
Oregon in 1S49, served four terms in the
House as delegate in Congress, and IN
1859 was chosen senator for the term ex-
piring March 3, 1861. All the Lanes
mentioned are now dead, and it is worthy
of remark that Henry S. Lane, James IL.
Lane and Joseph Lane are the only
/ Lanes who ever held seats in the Senate,
and, with the addition of Amos Lane,
all served in the House. Lafayette Lane,
who was a member of the Forty fourth
Congress from Oregon, was a son OF
Gen. Joe Lane. No other persons by
! the name of Lane have so far served IN
either branch of Congress.
/ J. J. Noah.